Effectiveness of burnout interventions in nursing: A systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis

Burnout among nurses adversely affects health, retention, and quality of care. Although numerous interventions have been evaluated, heterogeneity in quality and outcomes limits translation into practice.

To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce burnout in nurses through a systematic review of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, Cuiden Plus, Dialnet, and Web of Science were searched up to December 2023. Eligible studies were systematic reviews with meta-analysis (2013-2023) reporting Maslach Burnout Inventory outcomes and rated medium or high quality using AMSTAR 2. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted.

Seven reviews (132 studies; 7,432 participants) were included. Person-directed interventions, particularly mindfulness, coping skills training, and relaxation, reduced emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. No consistent effects were observed for personal accomplishment, and heterogeneity was substantial.

Person-directed interventions reduce core burnout dimensions in nurses, but evidence on long-term effects and organizational interventions remains limited.